Wagon-reach.



S O. FRANTZ. WAGON BEACH. unlonmn run]: our. 17, 1097.

913,882. Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT FETCH;

SAMUEL O. FRANTZ, OF CONWAY SPRINGS, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ERWIN J.

FRANTZ, OF CONWAY SPRINGS, KANSAS.

WAGON -REACH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL O. FRANTZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Conway Springs, in the county of Sumner and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful VVagon-Reach, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wagon reaches.

The object of the invention is to provide a reach which shall in a ready, practical and safe manner enable one man to control two or more loaded wagons with teams, or to trail two or more empty wagons without teams, thereby to effect a large saving in wages by reducing the number of employees to a minimum. Furthermore to provide a reach capable of securing the above functions and a further one of being extensible for the purpose of converting the running gear of a wagon into a hay frame or a lumber wagon.

Withthe above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists, generally stated, in a wagon reach embodying two sections longitudinally adjustable relatively to each other and embodying means to hold the sections at any required adjustment and also means for attaching one of the sections to a following wagon pole.

The invention consists further in the various novel details of construction of a wagon reach, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a view in plan, showing the adjustment of the parts of the reach, when extended for converting the running gear into a hay frame or a lumber wagon. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the adjust ment of the parts when used for trailing loaded'wagons with a team hitched to each wagon. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the adjustment of the parts when the reach is used for trailing empty wagons without teams.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the rear axle of a wagon, 2 the hounds and 3 the ordinary reach, and as these parts may be of the usual or any preferred construction further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. October 17, 1907.

Patented March 2, 1909.

Serial No. 397,857.

The invention resides in the provision of a supplemental reach 4 that is adapted to telescope on the reach 3 to secure the objects hereinafter described. constructed of-two strips of metal connected at intervals by three bands 5, 6 and 7 of which the latter is disposed at the inner ends of the bars, the band 6 intermediate of the ends of the reach 4, and the band 5 at a point adjacent to the rear end of the reach. The rear terminals of the members of the reach 4 are inwardly-curved or bent at 8, and are transversely bored to receive a pin 9 having a head 10 and carrying a split pin 11. The reach 3 is provided near its rear end with a transverse orifice 12, and at proper spaced distances in its length with two vertical orifioes 13 and 14.

In using the improved reach for trailing loaded wagons with teams hitched to each, as shown in Fig. 2, the pin 9 is removed and is engaged with the ring or clevis on the end of the pole of the following team, and a pin 15, which constitutes a shifting pin, is inserted into the orifice 14, and upon the reach memher 4 being drawn out until the band 7 engages with the pin, there will be sufficient space provided between the front wagon and the rear wagon to prevent the horses of the latter wagon from running against the tail gate of the front wagon. Lead lines will then be connected from the last-named horses to the tail-gate, and by which they will be properly guided by the movements of the front wagon. lVhen empty wagons are to be trailed that have no teams attached to them, the pin 15 is inserted through the orifioe 12, and through alining orifices provided in the bars of the reach member 4, as shown in Fig. 3. Of course the pin 9 will be engaged with the clevis on the trailing wagon.

When the reach is to be lengthened for the purpose of converting the running gear into a hay frame or a lumber wagon, as shown in Fig. 1, the pin 15 is inserted in the orifice 13, the reach 4 having previously been drawn backward until the band 7 is adjacent to this orifice. This extension of the reach may be of any desired length, being controlled entirely by the requirements of the user.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that although the improvements herein defined are simple in character, they will be thoroughly efficient for the purposes designed This reach 4 will be and will result in the production of a highly efiicient ap liance.

What is c aimed is 1. A wagon reach comprising a main section provided with a plurality of orifices, and a supplemented section composed of a pair of bars, one of which is arranged on each side of the main section, the rear ends of the bars being inwardly deflected and transversely orificed, bands connecting the bars at intervals of their length, a pin engaging the orifices of the bars to pass through the clevis of the tongue of a trailing wagon, and a pin to engage any one of the orifices of the main section and to bear against any one of the bands to hold the two sections at the desired longitudinal adjustment.

2. A wagon reach comprising a main section provided with a plurality of orifices, and

the main section, the rear ends of the bars being transversely orificed, bands connecting the bars at intervals of their length, a pin engaging the orifices of the bars to pass through the clevis of the tongue of a trailing wagon, and a pin to engage any one of the orifices of the main section and to bear against any one of the bands to hold the two sections at the desired longitudinal adjustment.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAlWUEL O. FRANTZ.

Witnesses:

EDNA WITHROW, H. F. LANE. 

